Thomas ii



(No Model.)

T. H. PERRY.

COMBINED PAPER CUTTER AND BOOK MARK.

,196. Patented Jan. 27,1891.-

"M ii amllihh cutter embodying my invention.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. PERRY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445.196, dated January 2'7, 1891.

Application filed June 6} 1890. Serial No. 354 435. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. PERRY, a citizen of theUnited States, residing atIndianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Paper-Cut ter and Book-Mark; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of combined book-marks and paper-cutters which are formed of a single piece or strip of metal bent over at one end to form a head or loop for receiving the leaves of a book and retaining its proper position as a book-mark, the main blade being sharpened or otherwise adapted for use as a paper-cutter. The devices of this class heretofore in use are generally of comparatively expensive construction, or liable by reason of the U-shaped bend ordinarily employed to form the handle or head to displacement laterally and otherwise when used as a book-mark, and are generally of inconvenient arrangement and construction.

The object of my invention is to obviate the disadvantages just treated of and to provide an improved combined book-mark and paper-cutter which will be positive in its contact with the edges of the leaves of a book when used as a book-mark and not liable to accidental displacement, which will be of convenient arrangement and construction for use as a paper-cutter, and which will generally possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness in manufacture, simplicity in construction, convenience'and ease in operation, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved book-mark and paper- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line a: :0, Fig. 2. Fig. i is a transverse sectional view on the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end elevation. Fig. 6 is a top or plan view. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sectional views illustrating the po sition and operation of the device with rela tion to the leaves of a book when used as a book-mark.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates my improved papencutter and book-mark, which is preferably formed of a single piece or strip of metal and comprises a long or main blade B and a shorter blade 0, the strip being preferably bent over at one end to form the blade 0, which is thus connected with the main blade 13 by a neck portion or wall D. The blade B is mainly adapted for use as a papercutter in the usual manner, and is preferably provided with a convergent point or end I) and with a cuttingedge 1), running entirely around the edge of the blade at both sides and around the end or point, as shown. The end of this cutting-edge preferablyterminates at a point on a plane corresponding to the front edge of the blade 0, as shown at Z Z, and the cutting-edge may be formed by beveling the side edges and end of the metallic blade upon the face which is opposite the blade 0. By thus providing the cutting-edge upon the upper face of the blade B and extending it continuously around the side edges and end of the cutting-blade greater convenience and efliciency are secured in the use of the device as a paper-cutter, simplicity in construction and manufacture is secured, and the appearance of the device enhanced.

The head of the device, formed by the blade C, neck portion D, and end of the blade B, forms a convenient handle, by which the device may be held and operated when used as a paper-cutter, and serves particularly the office of retaining the device in position when used as a book-mark. This head or handle portion, as before indicated, may be formed by bending over the strip of metal of which the device is constructed, or it may be otherwise suitably and conveniently formed when the device is manufactured of any other compositio or material other than metal as, for instance, by moulding, pressing, bending, or otherwise. The front edge cot the short blade C is preferably curved, as shown, and is provided with a sharpened or pointed edge adapted to readily enter between the edges of the leaves of a book when the device is used as a bookmark. For greater convenience and efficiency in operation this edge may be formed by beveling the end of the blade;

but the bevel or cutting edge is formed at both the outer and inner sides of the blade to facilitate the entrance of the blade between the edges of the pages of a book, the pages or leaves of the book being on both sides of the blade 0 when the device is used as a bookmark. By means of this construction of the sharpened or pointed end of the short blade the latter is not only enabled to freely enter between the edges of the leaves of the book at its outer face without injury to the leaves,

but by this construction a number of leaves are loosely admitted within the rectangular head, and are by reason of the reduced opening above the beveled or sharpened end tightly compressed, so as to hold in conjunction with the straight connecting neck portion the marker firmly and securely in the position to which it has been set or adjusted.

The head or handle portion is rectangular, as clearly shown in the sectional views of the drawings, the neck-portion D being at right angles to the blade B and the blade 0 being at right angles to the neck portion and parallel with the main cutting-blade B. In operation as a book-mark the edges of the leaves of the book are received compactly within the head of the device between the main blade B and shorter blade 0, and when received within this im-prc ved rectangular head fit tightly and snugly between the said blades with the edges abut-ting squarely against the corresponding straight neck portion D, by which arrangement and construction of the rectangular head the action of the edges of the leaves fitting closely and squarely against the neck portion prevents lateral displace ment of the device and serves to securely and eiiiciently retain it in the position to which it has been placed or adjusted. This improved ar angement and construction of the rectangular head secures many advantages over devices of this character which embody an approximately U=shaped head, in which latter construction the edges of the leaves cannot abut squarely against the neck portion and do not resist lateral movement of the device in either direction. This old form of device is therefore liable to constant displacement and cannot rigidly retain the position to which it is adjusted.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by reference to the drawings in connection with the foregoing description. As apaper-cutter the device may be conveniently used in various positions and arrangements, and as a bookmark its action is positive and efficient. It will be understood that while my improved combined paper-cutter and bookmark is preferably manufactured of a single piece or strip with all its parts integral, it may be formed of metal or any other suitable material, composition, or substance.

I do not Wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the exact detail construction shown and described, but reserve the right to all such modifications as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention and the claims therefor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described combined paper-cutter and book-mark, comprising a main cutterblade having a cutting-edge extending continuously around its side edges and end, and a rectangular head or handle portion embody ing a short blade having a pointed or sharpened end and a straight connecting neck portion against which the edges of the leaves of a book are adapted to closely and squarely abut, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described improved papercu'tter and book-mark, comprising a main cutting-blade having a cutting-edge upon its upper face extending continuously around the side edges and end, and a rectangular head or handle portion comprising the short insertible blade pointed upon both its inner and outer faces and the square connecting neck portion against which the corresponding edges of the leaves of a book are adapted to squarely abut, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein-described improved papercutter and bookmark, comprising the main cutting-blade having the convergent or pointed end and provided upon its upper surface with a bevel forming a'cutting-edge extending continuously around the side edges and ends and terminating about on a plane corresponding to the front end of the shorterb1ade,and the rectangular head or handle portion formed by the rear end of the main blade, the straight connecting neck portion at a right angle thereto, and the short insertible blade at a right angle to the neck portion and parallel with the main blade, the insertible blade having its front end pointed from both its outer and inner sides, substantially as and for the pun pose set forth.

at. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined paper-cutter and book-mark comprising a main cutting-blade having a cuttingedge, and a rectangular or angular head or handle portion formed by the rear end of the cutting-blade, a straight connecting neck portion at a right angle to the main blade, and a short insertible blade at a right angle to the neck portion and parallel with the end of the main blade, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined paper-cutter and book-mark comprising a main cutting-blade having a cuttingedge extending continuously around its side edges and across its end, and a rectangular head or handle portion adapted to tightly and squarely receive the corresponding edges of the leaves of a book, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An improved combined paper-cutter and book-mark having a main cutting-blade having a cutting-edge upon its upper face opposite the shorter blade, and a rectangular head or handle portion projecting from the upper face of the main blade at its rear end and comprising a straight neck portion at a right angle to the main blade and a short insertible blade at a right angle to the neck portion and parallel with the main blade and opposite its upper face, having the cuttingedge, the end of the shorter blade being sharpened or pointed on its inner face opposite the cutting-edge of the main blade, Whereby the edges of the leaves of a book are adapted to be admitted loosely in the rectangular head and be tightly compressed by rea' son of the reduced opening above the sharpened or beveled end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a device of the class described, the

rectangular head or handle portion formed by the end of the main blade, a connecting neck portion at a right angle to the main blade, and an insertible blade at a right angle to the neck portion and parallel with the main blade, the said insertible blade having upon its inner face opposite the main blade abeveled or sharpened end, whereby a number of leaves of a book are loosely received within the rectangular head and are tightly compressed Within the reduced opening above the beveled or sharpened end with their edges abutting squarely against the neck portion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TI-IOS. I]. PERRY.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. FOSTER, H. E. HAMILTON. 

